CARDINALS VS NATIONALSGame 3, National League Division Series, Tied 1-1Post Season Play in Professional Baseball Finally Returns to Washington, D.C.!

Last Pennant Won Here: 1948...In 1948, Washington’s Negro League team, the Homestead Grays, won the final pennant race of the Negro National League and went on to play in the last Negro League World Series.

Last Major League Baseball Pennant Won Here: 1933...Washington Nationals, AL Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C.vs New York Giants, NL

Last Post Season Appearance By This Franchise: 1981...The 1981 Montreal Expos made it to the postseason for the first time in franchise history (theonly time while the franchise was in Montreal, and the only time in franchise history, until now). The season was separated into two halves due to the 1981 Major League Baseball strike.

Frank Robinson, 77, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the first ever playoff game at Nationals Park, Oct. 10, 2012.Robinson managed the Nationals to an 81-81 record in 2005, and went 71-91 in 2006. No longer owned and mismanaged by Major League Baseball, the Nationals replaced him with Manny Acta.

Why is this game, pitting the Nationals, who have the best record in baseball, against the defending World Champions, scheduled for 1:07 PM on Wednesday October 10?Because Commissioner of Baseball, Bud Selig, despises and hates the Washington Nationals......and, as you can clearly SEE, he's a JACKASS!

I think this is a must win. We need at least one win out of our RHP starts this series.

Jackson has a nice pitching line for the year at home: 99.1 IP, 3.35 ERA, .226 / .283 /.385. .283 wOBA, 3.58 K/BB, 1.11 WHIP, 3.25 FIP. 50+% GB. September was a little off, more HRs, higher battting average due to a spike in BABIP, but still sub 4 on FIP.

While Jackson's last start v. St. L in St. L was a disaster, his last home start v. the Cards on 8/30 might have been his best start of the year (8 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 10K). Jackson has had the most trouble over his career with Yadier (8 for 14, 2 HR, 2 BB), Holliday (5 for 19, 1 HR, 1 2b, 1 BB), and Jay (2 for 6 with a 2B). Over his career, the current Cards have a.798 OPS against him, even higher if Schumaker is not in the line up.

Espinosa, Harper, Flo, Moore, and Lombo have not faced Carpenter. Of the 6 likely line up guys who have faced him, in 56 PAs, they have 2 HRs (werth, ALR), and are 17 for 52, with 1 BB, 1 HBP, 1 SH, 1 SF (.345 OBP, if I did it right), and .500 SLG. That's pretty good. Other bench players have not done much (Bernie, Tracy,